Affpuddle

  • THE auction of promises in Briantspuddle village hall was an extremely successful evening.

Peter Wharf did a really excellent job as auctioneer, assisted by a very glamorously dressed Jenny Beedle whose role it was to display the lots to the audience.

Bids flew in fast and furious for the many attractive items and events promised, and a total of £3,416.87 was made for the Briantspuddle village hall redevelopment project.

Great thanks go to the members of the village hall committee who worked so hard to plan and stage the evening that also included a tasty supper for the bidders.

  • AT ITS meeting, the parish council learnt that a notice of eviction had been served on the illegal travellers’ camp at Sares Wood.

A date for the court hearing was now expected.

Members of the parish council will continue with their efforts to get the county council to establish a permanent site elsewhere so that this problem is avoided in the future, Further discussion was held on the proposals by Dorset county council to install cattle grids at Turnerspuddle Heath.

The parish council had written to the Highways authority to object most strongly to the cattle grids.

The parish council had also written to the chief executive of the county council to complain over the lack of meaningful consultation on this issue.

A letter had been received from Church Knowle parish council seeking views on the lack of resources, and therefore reduced action, of the planning enforcement team of Purbeck District Council.

This coincided with increasing concerns of the parish council over planning matters that had been raised but not adequately dealt with.

With the support of the district councillor, enquiries would be made to the chief executive of Purbeck district council.

For more information, look at www.briantspuddle.info Bere Regis

  • THE December meeting of the Autumn Leaves over 50s group will be on Wednesday, December 10 at 2.30pm in the Drax Hall.

It will be a Christmas afternoon at which members will be encouraged to join in Christmas carols and enjoy seasonal refreshments.

  • TWENTY-FIVE walkers are registered with Bere Regis health walks, and the group has enjoyed a good 2008.

There will be a short walk of 30 minutes on Tuesday, December 9, and this will be followed by seasonal refreshments at Cyril Wood Court for registered walkers.

There will be walks on Tuesday, December 16 and Tuesday, December 23.

Walks will start again in the new year on Tuesday, January 6 at 10.30am.

If you would like further details about the Bere Regis health walks, telephone Lynda on 01929 471180.

  • MEMBERS of the gardening club enjoyed a fascinating talk by Simon Goldsack of Holme Nurseries on Winter in the Garden.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 2 at 8pm at the Royal British Legion club.

This will be a talk on landscape gardening by Tom Penny, and there will be suitable Christmas refreshments.